Guild Wars 2

Since the ranger trapper is probably the most useful thing rangers can provide, this is my wvw build. This build is centered around buff durations and group support. For vids of how this build fares with group support, see link in sig.

It has inbuilt boons that grant me 2 sources of protection, fury, regen and swiftness. In addition, any boon I get is shared with my pet… nice. Best traps in game are sadly not denoted as traps: entangle and muddy terrain. They are survival skills, so I have slotted 20% cooldown reduction, which means my muddy terrain is almost continuously up. Healing spring is an AoE water field and removes conditions from 5 players with every pulse.

My armour is Knight’s with 2 runes of Water and 4 runes of Altruism. This gives me +30% boon duration, which in combination with my traits +25% and potion +20% provides me with a total of +75% boon duration. This is excellent for fury, swiftness, vigor and protection that I gain from traits and skills. Ideally, I would like to add rampage as one, however I would lose the root.

On my weapons, I have sigil of stamina, sigil of perception and am still undecided for the sigils on my warhorn and sword. Sword and greatsword provide me with 3 evades, and are the most effective tools for hoovering. Warhorn is best offhand due to the group buff for fury and swiftness.

For my trinkets, I swap between emerald and valkyrie.

Thanks for sharing. Have you tested to confirm the boon durations from your runes stack? Seems like I read they did not, but I could be totally wrong about that.

Interesting build, glad you are having fun with it.

I ran a boon build similar to this except I went 0/20/15/30/5.

I did not go full ranger melee. I have extensively tested it in WvWvW and it is epic fail.

Once you go against competent opponents esp other melee classes you get torn apart. You can argue about your pet making the difference but smart opponents kill your pet first. Rangers can’t burst people down like other classes can. They know this and can use this to their advantage.

Not a fan of traps in WvWvW, Easy to spot easy to avoid. Muddy terrain has too small of a effect circle. The reduced cooldown is nice but in most fights its like its not even there

I was running 1HS/WH and LB. Longbow (even with its flaws) is still the superior WvWvW ranger weapon.

Healing spring is awesome but I found without healing power mods its not as good as it could be. The longer cooldown hurts sometimes, going bunker helps there but its not worth it for WvWvW. Bunker builds belong in sPvP/tPvP. Hitting like a wet noodle so you can have a “stronger” pet that is still your weakest link never worked for me (mainly larger group battles which is common place on higher tier servers). The smaller the battle the more bunker shines but you hurt your group with it since WvWvW comes down to mobility and damage. Nothing else matters.

One thing I missed that your build can use is signet of stone immunity. I find it hard to try builds without it due to how much spike damage is out there. With it I almost always die less and get away from some crazy stuff.

Your post gave me a few more ideas to tweak and try. I guess that is why i have 20 armour sets each with a different rune set and a bank full exotic weapons each with a different sigil. However, in the end I always end up going back to 30/20/5/0/5 (base starting point) and its variants.

Guff would you mind posting your “Preferred” Build.

Im currently running 30/20/5/0/5 but ive been running LB/SB Full Zerker for Zerging, but Id like to try a better or more sustainable build. Ideally something that will help me survive smaller encounters. Im going to go 1HS/WH and Longbow, just wondering what Weapon stats and Runes and Armour Stats and Runes and what Utility+Elite skills you’d recommend.

Not sure Guff knows what he’s talking about, you can’t “avoid” a trap rangers traps because an actual trap ranger build is throwing them not dropping them and you’re not really “using traps in WvW” unless you’re going to use a build built for using traps in WvW.

You’re using them the same way an aoe class uses their aoe, not the same way an untraited ranger uses traps.

Tbh, traps are pretty useless in wvw. The most effective crowd control we have are actually survival traps: entangle and muddy terrain. Any other trap denoted as one is simply not as good.

Stacking with boons along with bunker gear and sticking within melee range of other boon buffers is the way to go.

Honestly, I run 20/30/10/10….

Its a trap build completely different from this one but I love it.

I think this build looks like a lot of fun and reminds me that people do well with Rangers even if I dont understand their build.

Honestly it’s one of the biggest mistakes a player can make to say “oh well….I don’t do well with traps…so they’re bad…or I didnt like sigils….so sigils are for noobs!!!” In all honesty, you can do well with a naked ranger with no traits and a torch if you know what youre doing.

Nice build man

ijakings.5640:

Guff would you mind posting your “Preferred” Build.

I’m currently running 30/20/5/0/5 but I’ve been running LB/SB Full Zerker for Zerging, but Id like to try a better or more sustainable build. Ideally something that will help me survive smaller encounters. I’m going to go 1HS/WH and Longbow, just wondering what Weapon stats and Runes and Armour Stats and Runes and what Utility+Elite skills you’d recommend.

I bounced around between 30/20/15/5 and 30/20/5/10/5 with QZ/LR/SoS and Entangle. For the first build wilderness knowledge was selected and matched up nicely with the three survival skills. For the second one the difference was natures protection from the NM line. I found the protection buff to proc a lot because of the low health pool many attacks will hit the threshold. It gave a decent buffer to help hit other emergency skills like LR and especially SoS. This was born of the frustration with thieves singling me out and me not paying attention. Gives me more cushion.

I played around a ton with armour and runes. The best synergy i found was with a mix of mainly beserker and for a few of the main pieces knights. Runes were divinity.

Unfortunately, against equal skilled opponents in smaller battles all the “extra defense” stuff just delays the inevitable. You will die. Period. The ranger does not have any fail safe get out of jail cards like other classes and most classes see Rangers in WvWvW as free badges so you will be targeted constantly.

I have only been able to extended my life in those situations with mild success. I recently changed my partial zerker gear to full and just go full out damage. Currently basing my gearing and buffs on someone elses 100% crit PVE long bow build. I’m 30/30/5/0/5 Right now and I can attain 100% crit(with fury buff active) with about 8 stacks using the sigil of perception. Running Ranger Runes. Full Zerker, Prec Sharp Stones, bowl of curry butternut squash soup (100+ Prec, 10%) crit damage food. QZ/LR/SoS and RaO. 1.5k-2k sometimes higher on barrage every single tick.

Even with the ranger’s flaws its still fun to try new builds even with minor tweaks. Try to do the same.

capuchinseven.8395:

Not sure Guff knows what he’s talking about, you can’t “avoid” a trap rangers traps because an actual trap ranger build is throwing them not dropping them and you’re not really “using traps in WvW” unless you’re going to use a build built for using traps in WvW.

You’re using them the same way an aoe class uses their aoe, not the same way an untraited ranger uses traps.

Oh, I can avoid your traps. You still have to “throw” the trap which has an animation. Once I see that I can dodge roll and chain it with LR and Sword Evades. Not to mention I can just knock you away with my longbow and interrupt. Your traps also have very short range. You have to get close to throw them. If you are fighting me, I’m not gonna get close. I will only close the gap for the kill. I will use my two dogs to keep you at bay. In open field WvWvW I have the advantage. If the AOE for traps was made much larger things could change.

In smaller scale combat your traps will be much more effective. They really shine in sPvP/tPvP where I am forced to move towards you and your traps that are sitting on a point.

GUFF.5692:

ijakings.5640:

Guff would you mind posting your “Preferred” Build.

I’m currently running 30/20/5/0/5 but I’ve been running LB/SB Full Zerker for Zerging, but Id like to try a better or more sustainable build. Ideally something that will help me survive smaller encounters. I’m going to go 1HS/WH and Longbow, just wondering what Weapon stats and Runes and Armour Stats and Runes and what Utility+Elite skills you’d recommend.

I bounced around between 30/20/15/5 and 30/20/5/10/5 with QZ/LR/SoS and Entangle. For the first build wilderness knowledge was selected and matched up nicely with the three survival skills. For the second one the difference was natures protection from the NM line. I found the protection buff to proc a lot because of the low health pool many attacks will hit the threshold. It gave a decent buffer to help hit other emergency skills like LR and especially SoS. This was born of the frustration with thieves singling me out and me not paying attention. Gives me more cushion.

I played around a ton with armour and runes. The best synergy i found was with a mix of mainly beserker and for a few of the main pieces knights. Runes were divinity.

Unfortunately, against equal skilled opponents in smaller battles all the “extra defense” stuff just delays the inevitable. You will die. Period. The ranger does not have any fail safe get out of jail cards like other classes and most classes see Rangers in WvWvW as free badges so you will be targeted constantly.

I have only been able to extended my life in those situations with mild success. I recently changed my partial zerker gear to full and just go full out damage. Currently basing my gearing and buffs on someone elses 100% crit PVE long bow build. I’m 30/30/5/0/5 Right now and I can attain 100% crit(with fury buff active) with about 8 stacks using the sigil of perception. Running Ranger Runes. Full Zerker, Prec Sharp Stones, bowl of curry butternut squash soup (100+ Prec, 10%) crit damage food. QZ/LR/SoS and RaO. 1.5k-2k sometimes higher on barrage every single tick.

Even with the ranger’s flaws its still fun to try new builds even with minor tweaks. Try to do the same.

I use greatsword swoop ability as my get out of jail free card. Works wonders and has saved my life more times than I can count.

BroScientist.9875:

GUFF.5692:

ijakings.5640:

Guff would you mind posting your “Preferred” Build.

I’m currently running 30/20/5/0/5 but I’ve been running LB/SB Full Zerker for Zerging, but Id like to try a better or more sustainable build. Ideally something that will help me survive smaller encounters. I’m going to go 1HS/WH and Longbow, just wondering what Weapon stats and Runes and Armour Stats and Runes and what Utility+Elite skills you’d recommend.

I bounced around between 30/20/15/5 and 30/20/5/10/5 with QZ/LR/SoS and Entangle. For the first build wilderness knowledge was selected and matched up nicely with the three survival skills. For the second one the difference was natures protection from the NM line. I found the protection buff to proc a lot because of the low health pool many attacks will hit the threshold. It gave a decent buffer to help hit other emergency skills like LR and especially SoS. This was born of the frustration with thieves singling me out and me not paying attention. Gives me more cushion.

I played around a ton with armour and runes. The best synergy i found was with a mix of mainly beserker and for a few of the main pieces knights. Runes were divinity.

Unfortunately, against equal skilled opponents in smaller battles all the “extra defense” stuff just delays the inevitable. You will die. Period. The ranger does not have any fail safe get out of jail cards like other classes and most classes see Rangers in WvWvW as free badges so you will be targeted constantly.

I have only been able to extended my life in those situations with mild success. I recently changed my partial zerker gear to full and just go full out damage. Currently basing my gearing and buffs on someone elses 100% crit PVE long bow build. I’m 30/30/5/0/5 Right now and I can attain 100% crit(with fury buff active) with about 8 stacks using the sigil of perception. Running Ranger Runes. Full Zerker, Prec Sharp Stones, bowl of curry butternut squash soup (100+ Prec, 10%) crit damage food. QZ/LR/SoS and RaO. 1.5k-2k sometimes higher on barrage every single tick.

Even with the ranger’s flaws its still fun to try new builds even with minor tweaks. Try to do the same.

I use greatsword swoop ability as my get out of jail free card. Works wonders and has saved my life more times than I can count.

Greatsword is a great defensive weapon. Swoop is amazing and when combined with SoH the mobility is the best that ranger has to offer. Just not a fan of its offensive abilities. People talk about spiking with it but I find the slow attacks to not yield enough juice. I prefer the 1 hand sword since the offensive damage is great and it has excellent avoidance. I really like items/weapons/skills that bring good amounts of both to the table. I do not feel greatsword does that. It still lacks in the damage end.

GUFF.5692:

Greatsword is a great defensive weapon. Swoop is amazing and when combined with SoH the mobility is the best that ranger has to offer. Just not a fan of its offensive abilities. People talk about spiking with it but I find the slow attacks to not yield enough juice. I prefer the 1 hand sword since the offensive damage is great and it has excellent avoidance. I really like items/weapons/skills that bring good amounts of both to the table. I do not feel greatsword does that. It still lacks in the damage end.

Spot on, Guff. I chose mobility(GS) over damage, since I value that more. Even when I try QZ with GS it still seems slow and clunky. I can’t bring myself to pass on both the block and Swoop for getting me out of situations. I just wish the damage was better like you said. :/

Honestly the issue I keep going over in my head over GS or Sword and offhand axe is driving me crazy. I love both and if it wasn’t for my love of bows as well, I’d go full melee.

What would you reccomend for the sigils in the LB and 1HS/WH

Obsidian.1328:

GUFF.5692:

Greatsword is a great defensive weapon. Swoop is amazing and when combined with SoH the mobility is the best that ranger has to offer. Just not a fan of its offensive abilities. People talk about spiking with it but I find the slow attacks to not yield enough juice. I prefer the 1 hand sword since the offensive damage is great and it has excellent avoidance. I really like items/weapons/skills that bring good amounts of both to the table. I do not feel greatsword does that. It still lacks in the damage end.

Spot on, Guff. I chose mobility(GS) over damage, since I value that more. Even when I try QZ with GS it still seems slow and clunky. I can’t bring myself to pass on both the block and Swoop for getting me out of situations. I just wish the damage was better like you said. :/

One other reason is you get to equip another Sigil in the off hand weapon which is a deal breaker for me because of Sigils I use.

Here’s my (first question) does the + boon duration extend the length of invulnrability from the activated signet?

Jarul.8635:

Here’s my (first question) does the + boon duration extend the length of invulnrability from the activated signet?

Don’t quote me on it, but it’s fairly safe to say they don’t. Boon duration only extends boons. The invulnerability is technically not a boon.